The Must-Know Dos and Don'ts of Wedding Guest Attire

Patricia Lyons Photography
 
Nowadays, there are so many ways to showcase your personal style — especially at a wedding. Guests no longer need to follow to tradition when it comes to their looks for the special occasion. But when does your very own personal flair conflict with etiquette? Here, we give you what you can — and never should — wear on the big day.

The Dos:

Use good judgement: If the invitation does not indicate a theme or the wedding's level of formality, keep it simple, yet refined.

Embrace soft colors: Though pastels are usually associated with spring, they can work all-year round. A blush pink sheath dress or expertly-tailored suit will make you one of the best dressed no matter what the season.

A little black dress is a foolproof choice: The LBD is classic and comes in hundreds of iterations. If you are on the fence about what to wear, choose a figure-flattering black number and add some panache by way of your accessories.

Comfortable, yet stylish shoes do exist: You will be dancing and mingling all night, so you should work on purchasing a pair of stylish shoes that are still highly functional.


The Don'ts:

Avoid wearing white at all costs: This is the bride's day, so you shouldn't compete with her by wearing the same shade. In addition to pastels, there are so many other hues to choose from including a beautiful jewel tone or glamorous metallic hue.

Keep the embellishment to a minimum for daytime weddings: Most stylish women love a good sequined design, but they're not the best choice for daytime ceremonies. You can instead make up for that glitz with statement-making jewelry and shoes.

Leave sultry silhouettes for nights out: There is never anything wrong with flaunting your figure, but a wedding is not the place for unabashedly sexy looks.

Denim is a no-go: Some ceremonies are casual, but even then, that does not warrant wearing denim or chambray. Instead opt for a billowing maxi dress in a romantic print.